12 Weeks Already!

Snow and Stew! (Recipe)

We finally received some snow here. The children are excited, but I'm not as I desperately need new tires with tread on them! Hopefully I won't have to get out while it's slick. Luck would have it that I planned a stew for tonight and this is the perfect weather for it. This is an old family recipe that has vague instructions, but I have tweaked a few things to fit my family. Originally it called for cooking in a casserole dish in the oven, but us modern gals like to put the crock pot to good use!

Stay-A-Bed Stew
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 8oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 can water (this I've changed to 3 full cans)
• 1 can golden mushroom soup
• 1 32oz. bag of frozen mixed veggies (smaller bag if you feel this is too much)
• 3 lbs. potatoes (cubed)
• 1 small onion (diced ~ I use only half)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Lightly brown meat and add onion toward the end. In a separate bowl combine sugar, tomato sauce, water, mushroom soup, and salt and pepper. Place browned meat, potatoes, and frozen veggies into crock pot and add liquid mixture. I set for 4 hours but it is usually ready before. I like to keep an eye on the liquid in case I need to add a little more water. Serve with cornbread.

Shrimp and Feta Vermicelli

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. vermicelli
• 2 T olive oil
• 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 1/4 t dried Italian seasoning
• 1/2 t minced fresh garlic, or garlic powder
• 1/4 t salt, 1/4 t black pepper
• 1-2 12 oz. pkgs frozen shrimp
• 4 oz crumbled feta

Instructions:

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, keep warm. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add tomatoes and next 6 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add shrimp; simmer 3 minutes, just until shrimp turn pink. Serve over pasta; top with feta cheese.

Note: I like to use the popcorn size shrimp and usually have to devein them before cooking. I serve this with a side of green peas.

Well, hello, Liebster

Wow! I have been honored with the Liebster Blog Award! Savy Suburban Mom was kind enough to nominate me. Thank you! The Liebster Award is a way to honor fellow bloggers who are new to the blogging world and want to connect with others. 

There are a few rules to follow in participating:

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves

2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to

3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them to your post

4. Go to their page and tell them about their award

5. No tag backs!

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I share my middle name with my mother
2. I used to collect pigs when I was younger
3. My favorite color is yellow
4. I like sushi
5. I want to live somewhere tropical
6. I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up
7. I LOVE chickens (small ones, big ones, roosters, hens, etc.)
8. I hate flying
9. I am not a morning person (or late night anymore!)
10. I have secretly wanted to take belly dancing lessons
11. I did not finish college ~ twice

Answers to My 11 Questions Asked:

1. What is your go-to dinner meal? Tacos or hamburgers with mac & cheese
2. What is the high of your day? Midmorning, 9-noonish
3. What is your favorite vacation destination? Turks & Caicos so far
4. What advice would you give to new or expectant moms? Write everything down that you want to remember, all those sweet moments, details you don't want to forget
5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be? Hawaii
6. What's your lucky number? 5
7. What can you not live without? Lip balm
8. Are you a cat or dog lover? Cat all the way!
9. What type of music do you listen to most? A good mix of Christian, 80s, and pop
10. What is your most prized possession? I don't like having to pick one thing, but I would choose my wedding ring
11. Who influences you? God (it's daily work) and godly women who are encouraging

Blogs I Am Nominating:

I didn't follow the rules here, mainly because most blogs I follow have been around for more than a few years. But here are some I think are great! Check them out:

Heather's Blessed Journey

NiCk*NaCkS & NoRmAnS

Keepin' up with the Joneses

My 11 Questions For Them:

1. In what state were you born in?
2. Where is the furthest you've traveled from home?
3. Do you know how to sew?
4. Are you an animal lover?
5. Can you swim?
6. Do you prefer the hot or the cold seasons?
7. If money wasn't an object, what would you do with your time?
8. Do you have a best friend?
9. Are you a risk taker or would rather play it safe?
10. What is your favorite color of flower?
11. Why did you start blogging?

Encouraging Our Children

Are you guilty of telling your children, "You can be anything you want to be"? I know I have said this many times over the years. It's a statement that can give hope to a child that he or she can do anything they choose to do. It's meant well. But really it isn't true. We all have specific gifts and personalities, but none of us has the anything gift. Encouraging our children in this way could set them up for failure in the future. Failure only because it isn't something the God would lead them to do. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

He made our children the way He wanted before they were born, and He planned out what He wanted them to do even before they were born. We do not get to choose what gifts our children will have, God does. He gives different gifts and in different amounts. God expects the gifts He gives to be used. So now I have purposed to say "You can be anything God wants you to be." Because that is true. It keeps a God-focused future in front of them instead of a self-determined one.

Visit The Time-Warp Wife for many more encouraging posts on parenting, marriage, and being a homekeeper.

Products I'm Loving This Winter

Ok, it hasn't been a very cold winter here. We enjoyed many 60 & 70 degree days in January. But everything seems a bit dryer with the use of the heater. These are some of the things I have been using for a couple of months that I think have helped.

CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion - I use this on my face when I skip my regular skin care line product. Nivea Original Moisture Daily Lotion - smells great. Avon Anew Rejuvenate Eye Moisturizer - I cannot go to bed without eye cream. This one is a day/night with two separate creams inside.

For my hair I have been using these for a week and LOVE them! I won this package at our mother/daughter bunco for most losses, yay me!! Matrix Total Results Repair Shampoo & Conditioner. The small bottle is a leave-in elixir for split ends.

I've used Kiehl's Lip Balm in the past, but I received this in my stocking at Christmas! Cranberry flavored! One of my favorites!